# Ramchandra Dattatreya Ranade

Ramchandra Dattatrey Ranade (1886–1957) was an Indian scholar-philosopher-saint of Karnataka and Maharashtra.

## Biography

He was born on 3 July 1886 in Jamakhandi, in Bagalkot District of Karnataka. After completing his schooling he studied at Deccan College, Pune. In the year 1914 he passed M.A. with full honours and for a very brief period joined the teaching staff of Fergusson College, Pune. He taught at Willindon College, Sangli, on a regular basis before being invited to join Allahabad University as Head of Department of Philosophy where he rose to be the Vice-Chancellor. After retirement in 1946 he lived in an ashrama in a small village, Nimbal, on border of Maharashtra and Karnataka, near Vijaypura ( Bijapur) where he died on 6 June 1957.

## Philosophy

According to Shri Gurudev Ramchandra Dattatrey Ranade, the three main approaches in arriving at the solution to the problem of the Ultimate Reality have traditionally been the theological, the cosmological and the psychological approaches. The cosmological approach involves looking outward, to the world; the psychological approach meaning looking inside or to the Self; and the theological approach is looking upward or to God. Descartes takes the first and starts with the argument that the Self is the primary reality, self-consciousness the primary fact of existence, and introspection the start of the real philosophical process. According to him, we can arrive at the conception of God only through the Self because it is God who is the cause of the Self and thus, we should regard God as more perfect than the Self. Spinoza on the other hand, believed that God is the be-all and the end-all of all things, the alpha and the omega of existence. From God philosophy starts, and in God philosophy ends. The manner of approach of the Upanishadic philosophers to the problem of ultimate reality was neither the Cartesian nor Spinozistic. The Upanishadic philosophers regarded the Self as the ultimate existence and subordinated the world and God to the Self. The Self to them, is more real than either the world or God. It is only ultimately that they identify the Self with God, and thus bridge over the gulf that exists between the theological and psychological approaches to reality. They take the cosmological approach to start with, but they find that this cannot give them the solution of the ultimate reality. So, Upanishadic thinkers go back and start over by taking the psychological approach and here again, they cannot find the solution to the ultimate reality. They therefore perform yet another experiment by taking the theological approach. They find that this too is lacking in finding the solution. They give yet another try to the psychological approach, and come up with the solution to the problem of the ultimate reality. Thus, the Upanishadic thinkers follow a cosmo-theo-psychological approach. A study of the mukhya Upanishads shows that the Upanishadic thinkers progressively build on each other's ideas. They go back and forth and refute improbable approaches before arriving at the solution of the ultimate reality.

## Works

He was a good orator who was also a good writer. His monumental work that made him famous, A Constructive Survey of Upanishadic Philosophy, was published by Oriental Books Agency, Pune, in 1926 under the patronage of Sir Parashuramarao Bhausaheb, Raja of Jamkhandi. He also wrote Pathway to God in Hindi and Marathi and Ramdasvacanamrut, which is based on the scriptures of Samarth Ramdas. As an eminent scholar of the Upanishads who had specialised in Greek philosophy, Shri Gurudev Ramchandra Dattatray Ranade emphasised the centrality of the psychological approach as opposed to the theological approach for the proper understanding of the Ultimate Reality. His works also include Pathway to God in Kannada literature. The Bhagavadgita as Philosophy of God Realisation. Evolution of my own thought. Ekanath Vachanamrut. Sant Vachanamrut.

## Inchegiri Sampradaya

Shri Gurudev Ramchandra Dattatray Ranade belonged to the Inchegeri Sampradaya.
Shri Chandra Bhanu Pathak was disciple of Gurudev Ranade, who carried forward his lineage in northern part of India, Bikaner, Rajasthan. He was a renowned, loving, affectionate guru among his disciples. His works include the translation of the Geeta in several languages including Marathi and English.
The lineage is being carried forward by Shri KhinwSingh ji Shekhawat (aka Shri Yogkshem shekhawat) who continues the teachings of Gurudev Ranade and Chandra Bhanu Pathak in Bikaner.
Shri Chandra Bhanu Pathak was married to Pratibha Pathak and leaves behind his family. He had no children of his own but took on his older brother Kailash Chandra Pathak and Vimala Devi Pathak’s son Rajnish Kumar Pathak as his own, his grand children Ratna Pathak, Rahul Pathak and Rohit Pathak and his great grandchildren Rishi Thakar and Parth Thakar
vteInchegeri Sampradaya :
Rishi Dattatreya
Navnath, the nine founders of the Nath Sampradaya,
Gahininath, the 5th Navnath
Revananath, the 7th or 8th Navnath, also known as Kada Siddha
Siddhagiri Math c.q. Kaneri Math (est. 7th or 14th century; Lingayat Parampara c.q. Kaadasiddheshwar Parampara
Nivruttinath, Dnyaneshwar's brother
Dnyaneshwar (1275–1296) also known as Sant Jñāneshwar or Jñanadeva and as Kadasiddha or Kad-Siddheshwar Maharaj
Different accounts:
Kadasiddha, also called "Almighty "Kadsiddeshwar", who appeared as a vision to Sri Gurulingajangam Maharaj
or
The 22nd or 24th Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar Maharaj, who initiated Sri Gurulingajangam Maharaj
or
"The 25th generation of the kadsiddha at siddhagiri had then initiated Guruling jangam maharaj of nimbargi."
or
"Juangam Maharaj" c.q. "a yogi [at Siddhagiri] who gave [Nimabargi Maharaj] a mantra and told him to meditate regularly on it"
1
Nimbargi Maharaj (1789–1875) also known as Guru Lingam-Jangam Maharaj
23rd Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar Maharaj
2
Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj Umdikar (1843 Umdi – 1914 Inchgiri)
24th Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar Maharaj
3
Shri Amburao Maharaj of Jigjivani
(1857 Jigajevani – 1933 Inchgiri)
Shivalingavva Akka (1867–1930)
Girimalleshwar Maharaj
Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj (1875–1936)
25th Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar Maharaj
4
Shri Gurudev Ranade of Nimbal (1886–1957)
Balkrishna Maharaj
Shri Aujekar Laxman Maharaj
Madhavananda Prabhuji (d. 25th May, 1980)
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897–1981)
Sri Ranjit Maharaj (1913–2000)
Sri Ganapatrao Maharaj Kannur (1909–2004)
Shri Vilasanand Maharaj (1909–1993)
Shri Ranachhodray Maharaj, Baitkhol Karwar
26th Shri Muppin Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj (1905–2001)
Student of Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj
5
Shri Gurudev Chandra Bhanu Pathak
Bhausaheb Maharaj (Nandeshwar)
Shri Nagnath Alli Maharaj
Maurice Frydman
Ramesh Balsekar
Gautam Sachdeva
Ramakant Maharaj
Alexander Smit
Douwe Tiemersma
Robert Powell
Timothy Conway
Jean Dunn
Mark McCloskey
"Sailor" Bob Adamson
Stephen Wolinksky
Mark West
David Hargrove
27th head: Adrushya Kadsiddheshwar Swamiji
Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Shree Swami Narendracharyaji Maharaj
Notes for table
Notes
↑ Frydman 1987
↑ Boucher
↑ Frydman 1987
↑ Dnyaneshwar
↑ Frydman 1987
↑ Frydman 1987
↑ Boucher
↑ Kada Siddha (website Ranade Maharaj
↑ Kada Siddha (website Ranade Maharaj)
↑ Siddhagiri Math
↑ Siddhagiri Math (website Shri Kshetra Siddhagiri Math, Kaneri)
↑ Siddhagiri Math (Gramjivan Museum)
↑ Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj (website Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj)
↑ Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj Parampara
↑ Dnyaneshwar
↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples
↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples
↑ Frydman 1987
↑ Boucher
↑ Frydman 1987
↑ Ranjit Maharaj Timeline
↑ Ranjit Maharaj Timeline
↑ Siddhagiri Math (website siddhagirimath.org)
↑ Siddhagiri Math (website siddhagirimath.org)
↑ Kada Siddha (website Balkrushna Maharaj)
↑ Boucher
↑ Boucher
↑ Nimbargi Maharj (website Ranade Maharaj
↑ Frydman 1987
↑ Boucher
↑ Bhausaheb Maharaj (website Ganapatrao Maharj)
↑ Bhausaheb Maharaj (website Ranade Maharaj)
↑ Amburao Maharaj (website Ranade Maharaj)
↑ Frydman 1987
↑ Shivalingavva Akka (website Ranade Maharaj)
↑ Frydman 1987
↑ Girimalleshwar Maharaj (website Balkrushnamauli Maharaj)
↑ Boucher
↑ Frydman 1987
↑ Amburao Maharaj Maharj (website Ranade Maharaj)
↑ Ranade Maharaj (website Ranade Maharaj)
↑ Boucher
↑ Frydman 1987
↑ Ranade Maharj (website Bridge-India)
↑ Balkrishna Maharaj (website Balkrishna Maharaj)
↑ Nagnath Alli Maharaj (website)
↑ Madhavananda Prabhuji (website gurusfeet.com)
↑ Boucher
↑ Boucher
↑ Ranjit Maharaj (website Ranjit Maharaj)
↑ Ranjit Maharaj Interview
↑ Ranjit Maharaj Satsang
↑ Bhausaheb Maharaj (website Ganapatrao Maharaj)
↑ Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj (website Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj)
↑ Ranjit Maharaj (website Angelfire)
↑ Bhausaheb Maharaj (Nandeshwar) (website Balkrishna Maharaj)
↑ Nagnath Alli Maharaj (website Nagnath Alli Maharaj)
↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples
↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples
↑ Gautam Sachdeva
↑ Ramakant Maharj (website Ramakant Maharaj)
↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples
↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples
↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples
↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples
↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples
↑ Jean Dunn (website Ed Muzika)
↑ Jean Dunn (website Ngeton)
↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples
↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples
↑ Sailor Bob Adamson (website Sailor Bob Adamson)
↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples
↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples
↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples
↑ Siddhagiri Math – History (website siddhagirimath.org
↑ Narendracharyaji Maharaj (website Narendracharyaji Maharaj)
Sources
Boucher, Cathy (2002), The Lineage of Nine Gurus. The Navnath Sampradaya and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
Frydman, Maurice (1987), Navanath Sampradaya. In: I Am That. Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Bombay: Chetana
Websites
Amburao Maharaj (website Ranade Maharaj): Gurudev R.D. Ranade, Sadguru Shri Amburao Maharaj
Balkrishna Maharaj (website Balkrishna Maharaj): balkrushnamauli.com, Samarth Sadguru Balkrushna Maharaj
Bhausaheb Maharaj (website Ranade Maharaj): Gurudev R.D. Ranade, Sadguru Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj Umdikar
Bhausaheb Maharaj (website Ganapatrao Maharaj): ShantiKuteer Ashram, Bhausaheb Maharaj
Bhausaheb Maharaj (Nandeshwar) (website Balkrishna Maharaj): balkrushnamauli.com, Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj (Nandeshwar)
Dnyaneshwar: V. V. Shirvaikar, A brief biography of saint Dnyaneshwar (Jnanadeva)
Gautam Sachdeva: gautamsachdeva.com, About Gautam Sachdeva
Girimalleshwar Maharaj (website Balkrushnamauli Maharaj): balkrushnamauli.com, Girimalleshwar Maharaj</ref>
Jean Dunn (website Ed Muzika): Jean Dunn and Nisargadatta Maharaj
Jean Dunn (website Ngeton): Ngeton, Navnath Masters
Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj (website Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj): Mazad Sad Guru, Biography
Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj Parampara: mazasadguru.com, The Kaadsiddheshwar Parampara
Kada Siddha (website Ranade Maharaj): Gurudev R.D. Ranade, Kada Siddha
Kada Siddha (website Balkrushna Maharaj): Balkrushna Maharaj, Kadsiddheshwar Maharaj
Madhavananda Prabhuji (website gurusfeet.com)Gurus Feet, Madhavananda Prabhuji
Nagnath Alli Maharaj (website Nagnath Alli Maharaj): Shri S.S. Nagnath Alli Maharaj Sansthan, About us
Narendracharyaji Maharaj (website Narendracharyaji Maharaj): A brief biography of Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Sri Swami Narendracharyaji Maharaj
Nimbargi Maharaj (website Ranade Maharaj): Gurudev R.D. Ranade, Sadguru Shri Guruling Jangam Maharaj
Nisargadatta Maharaj Commemorations pt.1: David Godman, Remembering Nisargadatta Maharaj pt.1
Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples: Advaita Vision, Navnath Sampradaya. Disciples of Nisargadatta Maharaj
Ramakant Maharaj (website Ramakant Maharaj): Shri Ramakant Maharaj, Information
Ranade Maharaj (website Ranade Maharaj): Gurudev R.D. Ranade, Shri Gurudev R. D. Ranade
Ranade Maharaj (website Bridge-India): Bridge-India, Shri Gurudev R.D. Ranade
Ranjit Maharaj (website Ranjit Maharaj): Sadguru.com, Shri Ranjit Maharaj
Ranjit Maharaj Timeline: Sadguru.com, Shri Ranjit Maharaj History
Ranjit Maharaj Interview: InnerQuest, Ranjit interview
Ranjit Maharaj Satsang: inner-quest.org, "Final Reality has no beginning and no end."
Ranjit Maharaj (website Angelfire): Sri Ranjit Maharaj profile
Sailor Bob Adamson (website Sailor Bob Adamson): Sailor Bob Adamson website
Shivalingavva Akka (website Ranade Maharaj): gurudevranade.com, Rv. Smt.Shri.Shivalingavva Akka
Siddhagiri Math: Detailed history of Shri Nisarghadatta Maharaj
Siddhagiri Math (website Shri Kshetra Siddhagiri Math, Kaneri): Shri Kshetra Siddhagiri Math, Kaneri
Siddhagiri Math (Gramjivan Museum): Siddhagiri Gramjivan Museum Kaneri Math
Siddhagiri Math (website siddhagirimath.org): siddhagirimath.org, Siddhagiri Math – Pedigree
Siddhagiri Math – History (website siddhagirimath.org): siddhagirimath.org, Siddhagiri Math – History :